Town of Warwick
Selectboard
January 23, 2012
Minutes
Members present: Patricia Lemon, Dawn Magi, Nick Arguimbau
Others present: Town Coordinator David Young, Town Secretary Rosa
Fratangelo Calcari, Planning Board Chair Ted Cady, Jim McRae, Genevieve
Fraser, Jon Calcari
I. Call to Order
Chair Magi called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm in Town Hall.
Public Comment
None.
III. Minutes
Arguimbau MOVED to accept the minutes of January 9, 2012 as printed.
Lemon SECONDED. Motion CARRIED by a vote of 3-0-0.
IV. Presentations and Discussions
1. Housing Rehab/Program Income Error Update --Young said that there
was nothing new to report at this time.
2. Wendell Road Cutting Plan Hearing--Planning Board Chair Ted Cady
explained that the scenic roads policy calls for a joint cutting and
pole hearing when there is a reasonable likelihood of tree cutting being
done as part of setting new utility poles. He noted that the Wendell
Road pole hearing had been held prior to the establishment of the scenic
roads policy. At that hearing, the proposed poles to Mike Humphries new
proposed home were approved and have been set. Cady said that National
Grid wants to cut vegetation, and a hearing on this will be held by the
Planning Board. Cady noted that the Highway Department will not be
involved in any cutting that will take place, and asked the Board if it
wished to be involved in the hearing. There was a consensus of the Board
that no Selectboard presence is needed.
Lemon said that Elan Sicroff had spoken with Mark Fellows, and he is
willing to have the pallets on his property burned. Lemon said that
she had spoken with Fire Chief Ron Gates, who may want to use this
as a training exercise sometime before Spring.
3. Proposed Loudness Limit at Town Hall Events -- Young said that he
had come up with a proposal to set a limit after one extremely loud
event that occurred last year. He said that he tried to have the band
turn down the volume, as did Matt Hickler, but to no avail. Young
favored some study on the problem and the consideration that a limit
should be set. He noted that a decibel meter has gone missing from the
P.A. cabinet in Town Hall. Lemon said she had done some research on the
internet, and cited some statistics on decibel levels and the affects on
ear health and hearing loss. Young reiterated that more information is
needed before deciding on a maximum decibel level.
Jim McRae, a carpenter, a musician and part of Wooden Fender, said
that he also books bands. He acknowledged the sound level at the one
event to which Young had referred was out of control, but that he
did not feel that this was a consistent problem that required a
policy. McRae said that he welcomed the objective readings of a
decibel meter at different points around a room, and would like to
gather data from such a meter. McRae expressed concern that this
might be an overreaction to a single event, and also questioned how
best to enforce a policy to insure that, once enacted, it could be
properly followed. Young said that McRae had valid concerns, but
ultimately the Selectboard has the right to have the final say of
how things go when Town Hall is rented out for events.
Arguimbau said that he wanted to make sure that we have a meter,
that the meter is used, and that if the meter registers over a
certain decibel level, it be reported to the Selectboard. Magi said
that she supported the use of a meter.
Lemon MOVED to authorize David Young to look into, with a view to
purchase, a meter for measuring sound level. After some further
discussion, Lemon WITHDREW the Motion.
There was a consensus of the Board that Young will purchase a new
meter, and that McRae will monitor noise levels at events. The issue
will be revisited in the future if complaints occur.
4. 150th Civil War Anniversary-- Genevieve Fraser from Orange formally
invited the Selectboard and the townspeople to participate in a series
of events being held to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil
War. She noted that these events are being put together for the Quabbin
region and beyond. Fraser explained that July 4th is the 150th
anniversary of the proclamation sent by President Abraham Lincoln to the
Governor of Massachusetts mandating every city and town give men and
money for the war effort.
Fraser invited the Board to a steering committee meeting on January
31st. She said that events being discussed will include a Civil war
parade and living heritage farmers and artisans market which will
feature handicrafts and more from that historical period.
Fraser asked that the Town take a look at its own history from that
time period for a history of the residents of the Civil War era. She
also said that she is directing the original play "Lincoln the
Musical" written by Dr. Michael Riccards, which will have its world
premiere at the Orange Town Hall auditorium on the two weekends
after July 4, 2012.
Mary Ann Hastings Fund Expenditure--Young explained that he was seeking
the Board's approval of an expenditure of $104.90 from the Mary Ann
Hastings Fund for a prior fiscal year employee stipend that both the
Accountant and Treasurer confirmed had not been paid. Young said that by
paying this from the Mary Ann Hastings Fund would allow immediate
payment. Reimbursement to the account would be sought at Annual Town
Meeting, and being a prior year bill, will require a 90% vote of TM.
Lemon MOVED to approve $104.90 from the Mary Ann Hastings Fund to pay
overlooked employee stipend. Arguimbau SECONDED. Motion CARRIED by a
vote of 3-0-0. 250th Anniversary Planning-- Magi said that her next step
will be to get in touch with Town committees.
Selectboard Reports-- Lemon said that the FRTA meeting last week was
cancelled due to weather.
Magi said that she would be attending a FRCOG budget meeting this week.
Arguimbau said that Ted Cady recently reminded him that the deadline for
funding is coming up in early April, so hazard mitigation and flood plan
needs to be addressed soon. Young will set up a committee meeting next
week.
Magi said that she has been receiving complaints about the Highway
Department's use of tandem plowing, especially for small storms. Young
said that he disagreed with Highway Superintendent Tim Kilhart's
determination that this method is the most efficient way to plow. Young
said that it is inefficient to use half of the Highway crew's resources
on one lane of one road at one time, and he favored spreading out the
resources. Magi concurred, and thought Kilhart should be asked to come
to a meeting to discuss the issue.
Lemon said that she had received a call from Dan Johnson asking for sand
on a particularly slippery road. Lemon said that she contacted Kilhart,
who told her he would check with Police Chief Shoemaker. Lemon said that
when she contacted the Police Chief later on, he told her that he had
not yet heard from Kilhart, but that a few cars had gone off that road.
Lemon wanted to know why the Police Chief would be the one to make the
determination of whether or not sand is needed, and under what criteria
a decision would be made. The variables of weather and road conditions
were discussed, and the matter will be placed on the agenda for the next
Selectboard meeting.
Coordinator Report-- Young said that free cash has been certified at the
earliest date in quite some time. The notification of free cash approval
listed the following: $60, 317.00 for the General Fund; $6,321.00 for
the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund; $26,442.00 for the Broadband Enterprise
Fund. Young also said that he has begun work on the FY 13 budget process
and the FY 11 annual town reports.
Hauling bid prices were discussed.
Young said that Building Inspector Phil Delorey has the electrical
inspector ready to inspect the Severance residence on Hockanum Road.
Young said that the elevator passed its most recent inspection, and the
current maintenance contract will be on the next agenda.
New and Other Business-- Animal Control Officer Rosa Fratangelo Calcari
informed the Board of a complaint she received on Sunday, January 22nd,
that the dog "Dozer" had been loose on the Styles property on Chestnut
Hill Road. The dog, who belongs to Kyle Whittier of 171 Shepardson
Road, was the subject of a nuisance dog hearing in August of 2011. The
dog was ordered confined to a kennel when outdoors. There was a
consensus of the Board to hold another nuisance dog hearing on this
matter.
VI.Adjournment
At 7:30 pm, Lemon MOVED to adjourn the meeting. Arguimbau SECONDED.
Motion CARRIED by a vote of 3-0-0.
Minutes taken by Rosa Fratangelo Calcari